Laser Hair Removal: Treatment Advice & Aftercare
Updated: Oct 6
3-Wave Diode Laser Hair Removal
Our 3-wave diode laser uses three wavelengths of laser energy to target melanin within the hair. The absorbed energy heats the hair follicle to reduce its ability to produce future hair growth.
Laser hair removal works best on hair containing sufficient pigment and is not effective on white, grey or very light blonde hair.
Because hair grows in cycles, only a proportion of hairs can be effectively targeted at each appointment. A course of treatments followed by occasional maintenance is therefore normally required.
Consultation & Patch Test
A consultation and patch test are required before your first laser hair removal treatment.
During your consultation we'll assess:
your skin type and hair colour
the area you'd like treated
your medical history and medication
previous hair-removal methods
tanning and sun exposure
whether your hair is suitable for laser treatment.
A successful patch test helps us assess your skin's response and select appropriate treatment settings, but it cannot guarantee that a reaction will never occur.
Please tell us if anything changes between your consultation and treatment.
Before Your Treatment
Shave — Don't Wax
The hair needs to remain within the follicle for the laser to target it.
Before and throughout your course:
Do not wax, epilate, tweeze or thread the treatment area between laser sessions.
Shaving or trimming is fine.
Shave the treatment area approximately 24 hours before your appointment, unless your practitioner has given you different instructions.
Avoid repeatedly shaving over irritated or broken skin.
If you have removed the hair from the root, we may need to postpone treatment until sufficient hair has regrown.
Avoid Tanning
Laser treatment should not be performed on skin that has been recently tanned or sunburnt.
Before your appointment:
avoid deliberate sunbathing
avoid sunbeds
avoid fake tan on the treatment area
avoid tanning injections/products
protect exposed treatment areas with a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50.
Please tell us if you've had significant sun exposure or developed a tan since your last appointment.
Don't hide a tan from your practitioner. Treating recently tanned skin can increase the risk of burns and pigmentation changes.
Your appointment may need to be postponed until it is safe to treat.
Medication
Please tell us about all medication, supplements and herbal remedies you take, including anything you've recently started.
Some medication can affect:
sensitivity to light
skin healing
bruising
the way your skin responds to laser.
This doesn't automatically mean you cannot have treatment. Your practitioner will assess whether treatment is appropriate or whether it should be postponed.
Do not stop prescribed medication in order to have laser treatment unless the healthcare professional who prescribed it has advised you to do so.
Please also tell us if you're taking or have recently taken isotretinoin or another prescription acne treatment.
Skincare Before Treatment
For facial laser hair removal:
avoid retinoids, strong acids and irritating exfoliating products around the treatment area before your appointment
don't use strong peels or resurfacing treatments immediately beforehand
tell us about recent chemical peels, microneedling, laser or other advanced treatments.
Your skin should be calm and intact on the day of treatment.
On the Day of Treatment
Please arrive with the area:
s
shaved as instructed
clean
free from fake tan
free from heavy creams, oils and body lotions.
For underarm treatment, avoid applying deodorant immediately before your appointment where possible.
Makeup and skincare will need to be removed from facial treatment areas.
Is Laser Hair Removal Suitable for Everyone?
Please tell your practitioner if you:
are pregnant
are currently unwell or have an active infection
have an active skin infection, cold sore, open wound or significant inflammation in the treatment area
have recently tanned or have sunburn
take medication or supplements that may affect sensitivity to light or healing
are taking or have recently taken isotretinoin
have a condition affecting normal healing
have a history of significant pigmentation changes following skin treatments
have vitiligo or another pigmentary condition
have epilepsy, particularly if triggered by flashing light
have recently had surgery or another advanced procedure in the area
are undergoing cancer treatment or have a significant current medical condition.
Having a medical condition doesn't necessarily mean laser hair removal cannot be performed. We may need to adapt, postpone or avoid treatment, depending on your individual circumstances.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
We don't perform laser hair removal during pregnancy.
If you're breastfeeding, please tell your practitioner so your individual circumstances and clinic protocol can be considered.
Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy can also affect hair growth, so results may be less predictable during this period.
Tattoos & Permanent Makeup
Laser hair removal must not be fired directly over a tattoo or semi-permanent makeup.
The pigment within a tattoo can absorb laser energy and potentially cause a burn or damage the tattoo.
Your practitioner will leave an appropriate margin around tattooed areas.
Please point out any tattoos, including very small or faded ones, before treatment.
Moles & Pigmented Lesions
We don't intentionally fire the hair-removal laser directly over suspicious or unidentified pigmented lesions.
Tell your practitioner about any mole or lesion in the treatment area that is new, changing, bleeding, repeatedly crusting or otherwise concerning.
Where appropriate, we may recommend medical assessment before treatment continues around the area.
What Does Laser Hair Removal Feel Like?
During treatment you may feel:
warmth
tingling
a brief snapping sensation
heat around individual hairs.
Our diode system incorporates cooling to help keep treatment comfortable.
The sensation varies according to the treatment area, hair density and individual sensitivity.
Laser should not feel excessively hot or painfully burning.
Tell your practitioner immediately if an area feels unusually hot or painful so the treatment can be assessed and settings adjusted if necessary.
What Should My Skin Look Like Afterwards?
Immediately after treatment you may experience:
temporary redness
warmth
mild sensitivity
small raised bumps around individual follicles.
The small bumps around the follicles are known as perifollicular oedema and can be a normal response to effective laser treatment.
These reactions usually settle naturally.
What Happens to the Hair?
The treated hairs don't necessarily disappear immediately.
Over approximately the following 1–3 weeks, successfully treated hairs may gradually work their way out of the follicles and shed.
This can sometimes look as though the hair is continuing to grow.
Don't tweeze or wax these hairs. You can gently shave between appointments if required.
Aftercare
For the first 24–48 hours, or until the skin has completely settled:
keep the area cool and comfortable
avoid excessive heat
avoid very hot baths and showers
avoid saunas and steam rooms
avoid strenuous exercise if heat or sweating irritates the area
avoid swimming if the skin remains sensitive
avoid perfumed or irritating products
avoid scrubs and aggressive exfoliation
avoid retinoids and strong acids on treated facial areas
don't scratch or rub the skin
use gentle skincare and moisturiser if required.
If the skin feels particularly warm, a cool compress can be used gently. Don't apply ice directly to the skin.
Sun Protection
Sun protection is particularly important throughout a laser hair-removal course.
Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 on exposed treatment areas and avoid deliberate tanning and sunbeds.
Tell us before your next appointment if you've developed a tan.
Treating recently tanned skin increases the risk of burns, blistering and pigmentation changes.
Exfoliation & Shedding
Once the skin has completely settled, gentle exfoliation can help loosen treated hairs as they shed.
Don't aggressively scrub or try to pull hairs from the follicles.
If a hair slides out easily during normal washing or exfoliation, it may simply be a treated hair shedding.
Shaving Between Appointments
You can shave between laser appointments.
Avoid:
waxing
epilating
threading
tweezing.
These methods remove the hair from the follicle and can make the next laser treatment less effective.
Why Do I Need Several Treatments?
Hair grows through different stages of a natural growth cycle.
Laser is most effective when the hair is in its active growth phase, and not all hairs are in this phase at the same time.
This is why treatments are spaced apart and why a course is required.
The number of treatments varies according to:
treatment area
hair colour and thickness
skin type
hormones
medication
individual response.
Hormonal Hair Growth
Laser can provide very good long-term hair reduction, but it cannot prevent your body from developing new hairs in the future.
Hormonal changes and conditions can influence hair growth, particularly on areas such as the face, chin and neck.
Clients with hormonally influenced hair growth may therefore require additional treatments or ongoing maintenance.
I think this is worth including because it sets much more realistic expectations than promising a fixed number of sessions.
Can Laser Permanently Remove Every Hair?
I would be careful with “permanent hair removal”.
A better description is long-term hair reduction.
Many treated follicles can produce a significant and lasting reduction in hair growth, but new or previously inactive follicles may become active in the future.
Maintenance treatments may therefore be required.
Paradoxical Hair Growth
Rarely, laser treatment can be associated with increased or stimulated hair growth around a treated area, known as paradoxical hypertrichosis.
This appears to be more relevant in certain areas, particularly the face and neck, and where hairs are fine or borderline suitable for laser.
For this reason, we will assess whether the hair is sufficiently dark and coarse to make laser an appropriate treatment.
If we believe the hair isn't suitable, we may recommend electrolysis instead.
That fits your clinic particularly well because you offer both and aren't trying to force everyone into laser.
Possible Risks
Laser hair removal is generally well tolerated when appropriately performed, but potential side effects include:
prolonged redness or irritation
blistering or burns
crusting
temporary darkening of the skin
temporary lightening of the skin
rarely, longer-lasting pigmentation changes
paradoxical hair stimulation
scarring, although uncommon.
Careful skin assessment, appropriate treatment settings and following your sun-exposure and aftercare instructions help reduce these risks.
When Should I Contact Eco Skin Clinic?
Temporary redness, warmth and follicular swelling are generally expected.
Please contact us if you experience:
significant or increasing pain
excessive or persistent heat
blistering
crusting or broken skin
significant swelling
redness that is worsening rather than settling
signs of infection
marked darkening or lightening of the skin
any unexpected reaction that concerns you.
If you think you may have developed a laser burn, contact us promptly rather than applying multiple products to the area yourself.
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